Nanjing (studying there on a scholarship)

[maomao]

Like a booze do they? Are Harbin and Dalian classed as Dongbei?

Yes. The three provinces of heilongjiang, jilin and liaoning make up the northeast.

They have that reputation though I think there's still a fairly large proportion that lack the enzyme for processing alcohol. The northeastern versions of baijiu tend to be particularly lethal though.

 

[Jay Park]

Yes. The three provinces of heilongjiang, jilin and liaoning make up the northeast.

They have that reputation though I think there's still a fairly large proportion that lack the enzyme for processing alcohol. The northeastern versions of baijiu tend to be particularly lethal though.

I was thinking of a foray into Yunnan and Sichuan but I'd like to see the North-East too

 

[Cid]

I have a friend in Harbin, might pop by for a cuppa one day. Although I still haven't got my health check yet so may get kicked out next week. I mean I probably won't, but you know what I mean - difficult to feel secure until everything has been properly sorted.

I kind of want to try various baijius... But er... it's probably not a good idea since I'm supposed to stop drinking (entirely on tsingtao at the moment). While I realise moving to cheap booze land is not a good way to do this, please bear in mind I lived in Sheffield before. And class starts at 8.00, with a 25 minute walk, so limits automatically placed on weekday drinking.

 

[Cid]

So er... how does one go about teaching English? good textbooks to base lessons on?

Probably 14-16 year olds.

 

[JimW]

So er... how does one go about teaching English? good textbooks to base lessons on?

Probably 14-16 year olds.

Eek! Managed to last twenty odd years without ever teaching English. I imagine I'd be really shit at it. Useful advice from me here

 

[Cid]

Eek! Managed to last twenty odd years without ever teaching English. I imagine I'd be really shit at it. Useful advice from me here

Cheers Jim, so helpful...

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

So er... how does one go about teaching English? good textbooks to base lessons on?

Probably 14-16 year olds.

Get a copy of English Grammar in Use and base some stuff off that.

I mean, probably no one expects you to actually teach them to speak English, and you can just play games and make them say stuff and do some comprehension activities and whatnot. If you want to actually teach in a way in which your students learn and improve, you're probably going to need at least a short online TEFL course to get the basics, but it's not really a requirement in China.

 

[Cid]

Get a copy of English Grammar in Use and base some stuff off that.

I mean, probably no one expects you to actually teach them to speak English, and you can just play games and make them say stuff and do some comprehension activities and whatnot. If you want to actually teach in a way in which your students learn and improve, you're probably going to need at least a short online TEFL course to get the basics, but it's not really a requirement in China.

I have the problem of not being a shit though...

Well, ok - maybe a bit of a shit, but not that kind. I'll see if I can dig up some TEFL materials, but course is probably too time-intensive given my main reason for being here is studying. I was thinking sort of along your lines after a bit of research - dig up some cefr/ielts vocab/grammar stuff. Guess they'll be A2-B1... Nick some lesson plans and substitute stuff that might be interesting/useful. Maybe set them a diary project for homework so they've got internal repetition going on.

What is 'English Grammar'?

 

[Cid]

Oh yeah, changed my view. Same building, but only the 45th floor.

 

[Cid]

This vast urban expanse (which goes on behind the bits that look like countryside) is China's... 12th largest city by population.

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

I have the problem of not being a shit though...

Well, ok - maybe a bit of a shit, but not that kind. I'll see if I can dig up some TEFL materials, but course is probably too time-intensive given my main reason for being here is studying. I was thinking sort of along your lines after a bit of research - dig up some cefr/ielts vocab/grammar stuff. Guess they'll be A2-B1... Nick some lesson plans and substitute stuff that might be interesting/useful. Maybe set them a diary project for homework so they've got internal repetition going on.

What is 'English Grammar'?

I'm sorry. The semester just started for me and I forgot to reply. PM me your email address and I'll send you some stuff to get you started. I teach composition courses rather than ESL these days, but a lot of my grammar stuff will translate easily into an oral setting.

 

[Cid]

Anyone shipped a bike back from China? I kind of want a nice one for a bit of exploration/fitness... Courier services just seem bloody expensive, and I'm not particularly fussed if it takes a while to get to the UK.

I know I could take it on the plane with me, that seems easiest, but it would be a pain in the arse if I decided to have a bit of jaunt before coming home. I should probably just join a gym.

 

[maomao]

Anyone shipped a bike back from China? I kind of want a nice one for a bit of exploration/fitness... Courier services just seem bloody expensive, and I'm not particularly fussed if it takes a while to get to the UK.

I know I could take it on the plane with me, that seems easiest, but it would be a pain in the arse if I decided to have a bit of jaunt before coming home. I should probably just join a gym.

You can't ride a proper bike in China. You have to ride a Flying Pidgeon or a ten quid mountain bike.

 

[Cid]

You can't ride a proper bike in China. You have to ride a Flying Pidgeon or a ten quid mountain bike.

B...but there's a Giant bike shop over the road from me, and it has shiny things.

 

[maomao]

B...but there's a Giant bike shop over the road from me, and it has shiny things.

It's all made in Taiwan too. It's probably much cheaper there. Things have changed on the bicycle front in the last twenty years.

 

[JimW]

Biggest thing I ever posted back was cases of books and clothes. Think you can sometimes find people filling a container and go in with them but not sure how you'd go about that these days.

 

[maomao]

You're in the right part of China for finding someone with a container. Just make friends with a friendly factory owner.

 

[Cid]

So update... I have some friends now. 3 quite close (as close as you get after 6 odd weeks I suppose); all classmates, 2 Koreans and a Dutch guy. Very young (I mean 21-24), but good people. Other people in my level (lower intermediate; 中上) who I get on with well enough too. Have eaten much good food, but would like to give special mention to Uncle Pizza who make actual Italian style pizza. Chinese food (as cooked in Nanjing) is too salty though... Mostly we live off 兰州拉面 (Pulled noodles in soup from Lanzhou), due to them being thoroughly filling and ridiculously cheap (about £1.20 for a massive bowl). Also like hot pot and Korean stuff (mmm... barbecue). Oh and lamb skewers. Kind of not what you expect to eat in China really, though we do have more well known stuff like 川菜(Szechuan) from time to time.

I've kind of got use to the general attitude here, it's kind of not rude as such, just... different. Indifferent. The streets are busy and people are going places. Bit like London but the code of conduct is different. Live music place recently reopened for Halloween, I think also will continue to be open. This was a relief... Reasonable rock stuff from 9-12 (though it got kind of shit a bit 11.30ish). Also it made me appreciate the UK smoking ban. A lot.

I definitely haven't found a job teaching 4-10 year olds for 300元/1.5 hrs. Because it would be naughty not to register for taxes etc... It's usually not teaching for 2-3 classes per week. I have no teaching experience, but its been mostly ok so far (except a disastrous first class with two imps from hell). It is ridiculously well paid; 300元 is £34.50 (so about £23/hr)... I am seriously thinking of going back to the UK for a year, doing a TEFL and tying up various things, then coming back to Nanjing for 3-4 years official working.

Studies are going pretty well, we have mid-terms at the moment (technically we do anyway, they don't feel very important), which is why I'm on here procrastinating. Things move fast though, I kind of feel I need to take a step back and consolidate, but I don't actually think that works very well. Best to keep up the pace, things start slotting into place, or you have to make them - grammar etc does catch up with the endless vocab memorisation eventually.

Loads of other stuff too, but should do some work. Although friends are coming over tomorrow eve, so maybe I'll just tidy the flat a bit first...

 

[moonsi til]

Ooh I love your updates.